Ex-Eagles pleads guilty to federal fraud charges related to pandemic relief programs

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges after being accused of filing fraudulent tax returns and claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief programs. .

The signed plea agreement was approved by a federal judge in Delaware on Friday. Smallwood, of Mullica Hill, New Jersey, faces sentencing in May on three counts of wire fraud.

Smallwood Attorney Mark Sheppard, told Philadelphia Inquirer that Smallwood appeared in court on Friday “and directly took full responsibility for his actions. He admits that this is only the first step in trying to make amends with the government and the people closest to him. He will continue to do so.”

Smallwood, 30, was initially charged in October.

He filed false tax returns for himself and others in 2021 and 2022, kicking back about $110,000, prosecutors said.

He also used, prosecutors said, nonexistent or newly incorporated businesses and provided false information about the extent of their operations, such as start dates, revenue amounts, expenses and number of employees. Some were under his name, and others – under the names of other people.

In one scheme, Smallwood used false information when he applied to the Economic Disaster Loan Program for loans for three businesses under his name. The U.S. Small Business Administration approved just over $46,000 in loans, prosecutors said.

In a separate scheme, Smallwood submitted fraudulent applications in the names of at least 13 other people for the Wage Protection Program, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, the bank issued nearly $270,000 in loans, from which Smallwood received kickbacks in exchange for preparing and filing the applications.

Eagles composite Smallwood graduated from West Virginia University in 2016. The Delaware native played three seasons with the Eagles before spending three more seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the team now known as the Washington Commanders.